David Rachel joined the TSU athletic staff as assistant coach for the men's and women's track and field program in August 2011. Rachel's coaching experience with track and field spans over 30 years with club, high school, and collegiate teams. The 2017-18 season will be his seventh at TSU.

Rachel primarily serves as the Field Event Coach focusing on throws and jumps.

As a collegiate athlete at David Lipscomb College, Rachel placed fourth at the NAIA National Championship in the Triple Jump and was a finalist in the 110m Hurdles, a finalist in the NAIA Indoor National Championship, and was recognized with MVP honors at Ball State Relay and Rhodes College. He was a two time recipient of the Tennessee Intercollegiate Athletic Championship Athlete of the Year Award.

Rachel began his career as the Assistant Track Coach at Fisk University and was recruited back to Fisk several years later after serving in roles as Founder of the Nashville Flyers Track Club. He produced eight High School All-Americans and Track & Field Coach for University School of Nashville where he produced a State Champion in the Pole Vault. Rachel has also maintained a career with Metro Nashville Public Schools where he works at Johnson School and has served as Assistant Track Coach at Maplewood High School.

As the Head Track & Field Coach at Fisk University, Rachel rebuilt the men's and women's track program to prominence in NCAA Division III athletics. Rachel's athletes qualified to compete six-consecutive years at the NCAA Division III National Championships earning All-American recognition in the Triple Jump, Long Jump, 400 Meters, and Multi Events. He also had a qualifier in the 110-Meter hurdles and a provisional female qualifier in the Triple Jump.

All-American recognition was also achieved by several Fisk athletes in the Independent Small Colleges in Sprints & Jumps. The Fisk women's team won the GSAC Cross Country Championship two years leading to Rachel's recognition as the Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2001. A Fisk athlete also was named the "South-Southeast Field Athlete of the Year Award" after receiving All-American honors as the National Champion in the Triple Jump and 4th Place in the Long Jump at the 2007 NCAA Division III National Indoor Championships.

A native of LaGrange, Ga., Rachel graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, Ga. where he excelled on the Track and Football Teams. He has a B.S. degree in Health and Physical Education from David Lipscomb College and holds USTAF Level I Certification and Level II Certification in Jumps and also Level II Certification in Sprints & Hurdles. Rachel is a member of the USTAF and USCA. Rachel, also a member of the USPTA has certification as a Level II Tennis professional.

David and his wife Janet who is a TSU alumni, have two daughters and former TSU athletes, Danette (tennis) and Mildred (track and field).